On 29 September 2025, UNESCO and the European Union convened a high-level ministerial event "Culture as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development: Advancing Evidence-Based Policies Along the Policy Cycle." Hosted in the margin of MONDIACULT 2025, the panel brought together four Ministers from partner countries of a EU/UNESCO programme.
Building on the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration, the event focused on the central role of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) both as a catalyst and an enabler of sustainable development. The Ministers agreed that data-driven and participatory policy-making contributes to strategic and long-term planning of the CCIs.
Using data to shape better policies
Opening the discussion, H.E. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam, reaffirmed that culture is the internal force for development and the cornerstone of economic growth. Participation in UNESCO's Culture|2030 Indicators enabled Viet Nam to develop a national Cultural Index, using reliable data to shape cultural policies and transform heritage into a national asset.
"Good policy must be based on good data." said H.E. Nguyễn Văn Hùng, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam.
From Panama, H.E. María Eugenia Herrera, Minister of Culture, shared a successful example. Drawing on 15 years of cultural satellite accounts, Panama now quantifies culture's contribution to GDP, employment and innovation.
"Numbers do not lie. When cultural policies are evidence-based, culture truly contributes to social and economic life." said H.E. María Eugenia Herrera, Minister of Culture of Panama.
Putting policy frameworks into action
H.E. Mostafa Al-Rawashdeh, Minister of Culture of Jordan, explained how the EU/UNESCO programme contributed to strengthening collaboration among ministries and engage civil society. As one of eight pilot countries of the Programme, Jordan is developing a national framework for CCIs aligned with the UNESCO 2005 Convention, and is also implementing the Culture|2030 Indicators framework.
"This collaboration represents a shift in perspective, viewing culture as a right, a pillar for social cohesion, and a tool to strengthen resilience in the face of economic, environmental and humanitarian challenges." said H.E. Mostafa Al-Rawashdeh, Minister of Culture of Jordan.
The joint support from UNESCO and the European Union was a catalyst for government action in Uganda, according to H.E. Dr Peace Mutuuzo Regis, Minister of State for Gender and Culture of Uganda. Between 2020 and 2023, Uganda adopted a national audiovisual strategy, launched a data platform and introduced a 70 per cent local-content quota. Data helped quantify the sector's impact, leading to a 8 million dollars public allocation and 18 new cultural centres.
"Now we truly understand the benefit of culture and the creative industries. This young generation is now finding a future." said H.E. Dr Peace Regis Mutuuzo, Minister of State for Gender and Culture of Uganda.
The EU/UNESCO programme has helped the development of over 33 cultural and creative industry policy frameworks and benefitted over 15 countries and 15 cities in implementing the Culture|2030 Indicators. Through the ongoing EU/UNESCO cooperation, a network of 80 experts now supports Member States worldwide.
